2024 Chattanooga Football
Postgame Notes & Records
Oct. 19, 2024 – Wofford – Finley Stadium
 
SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs rolled to a 37-5 win over Wofford on lovely Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium…Chattanooga is 4-3, 3-1 in the Southern Conference, while the Terriers move to 3-4, 1-3 in conference play.
- 32-point margin of victory is the largest by the Mocs in series history…previous high was 31 done first on Oct. 15, 1927, 38-7, and later matched in the Sept. 3, 2022 31-0 season opening triumph…both games were played in Chattanooga.
- Extends winning streak to four games.
- Chattanooga entered the contest No. 19 in the Stats Perform Top 25 and receiving votes AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.
- 85-87-1 when ranked...50-25 home...70-47-1 when ranked vs. unranked (40-16 home).
- 5-4 when ranked #19...5-2 at home...5-3 as #19 vs. unranked opponent (5-2 home).
- 8-1 vs. Wofford when ranked (4-1 home)...7-1 vs unranked Wofford (3-1 home).
- 117th season…573-557-35 (.507) all-time record.
- 46th year in the SoCon…173-169-2 (.506) all-time record.
- Game captains: Chase Artopoeus, Reuben Lowery III, Quay Wiggles & Reid Williams…3-2 when losing the toss.
 
COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
- 34-25 in his sixth season…27-13 in SoCon play.
- 5-1 against Wofford…3-0 in Finley Stadium.
- 13-7 in SoCon home games.
- Third win streak of four or more games under Wright. There are currently 33 such streaks: Moore (11), Huesman (5), Joe Morrison (4), Frank Thomas (3), Wright (3), Bill Oliver (2), Walter Hullihen (1), H.D. Drew (1), Harold Wilkes (1), Buddy Nix (1) & Buddy Green (1).
 
SERIES
All-Time Meetings: 31
Record: 16-15 | Home: 11-6 | Away: 5-9 | SoCon: 13-15 | Streak +5

• Last 5: 5-0| Last 10: 6-4 | 20: 10-10
• 5-game series win streak is the longest for either squad.
• 5-game series win streak is tied for the longest current vs a SoCon opponent with ETSU.

 
TEAM NOTES
- Another strong day for the defense allowing 257 total yards of offense – 101 rush & 156 pass – while also making four interceptions.
- The four takeaways led to 20 of the 37 scored on the day.
- Efficient offensive day with 321 yards with 176 rushing and 145 passing…662 yards rushing, 165.5 per game over the 4-game win streak.
- 8 of 14 on first down…led to holding onto the ball for 33:01…average time of possession during win streak? 140:31-99:29…an average of 35:08-24:52.
- First Wofford third-down conversion came inside two minutes to play in the third quarter…1 of 13 on third down for the game earning just 12 first downs…third straight week holding an opponent to 12 first downs.
- The Mocs second scoring drive was the longest of the season by plays run (16) and time of possession (7:39).
- Four interceptions for the second straight week…10 during 4-game win streak…13 for the season…seven shy of becoming just the sixth Mocs squad with 20 or more…most recent? 23 in 1987…13 is the most since 15 in 2021.
- Offensive line hasn't allowed a sack since 146+ minutes of game action…last came in third quarter of the win over ETSU...just three tackles for loss given up…40th time in 59 games under Rusty Wright the o-line allowed one or fewer sacks in a game.
- Wofford is the first FCS team to score on its opening possession against the Mocs…benefitted from short field from fumble lost by the good guys…Terriers were shut down but started it in field goal range taking the early 3-0 lead.
- Second quarter safety for Wofford was the first against the Mocs since The Citadel on Nov. 16, 2019.
- Wofford also had the first successful fake punt against Chattanooga since Western Carolina on Sept. 29, 2019.
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- QB Chase Artopoeus had an efficient day completed 13 of 19 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown and running for 36 more with two scores.
- 5th game with three or more TD involvements for Artopoeus…1st time with multiple rushing TDs.
- Three of Artopoeus' four career rushing touchdowns came against Wofford.
- Artopoeus is now tied for eighth in career TD passes with Alejandro Bennifield '17 with 29.
- RB Reggie Davis rushed for 74 yards on 21 carries…386 yards during the 4-game win streak (96.5/gm).
- WR Chris Domercant led the receivers with six catches for 101 yards…2nd 100-yard game of his UTC career.
- Domercant became the third in his room to join the century circle this season with his 1st down conversion to end the first quarter…collected 85 from 2021-23 at Stonehill before coming to Chattanooga in the spring.
- The century circle is more of a pyramid with three members: Sam Phillips (137-1,914), Whatley 119-1,910 & Domercant (105-1,877).
- Phillips missed his first career game due to an injury sustained in the first half last week at Furman…he started each of his initial 30 contests.
- P Heath Jehu connected on a career-long 63-yarder at the end of the first half…kicking from his own 25, Jehu's effort was collected at the Wofford 12 and returned to 16 but a holding penalty put the Terriers starting at their own six flipping the field…two punts for a 53.5-yard average.
- DB Reuben Lowery III's fourth quarter pick 6 was his third career interception but second ending in a score…the first came in the 2022 season-opening win over Wofford.
- LB Kobe Joseph grabbed his fourth career interception in the third quarter…returned it 11 yards to the Wofford 16…it gives his 142 interception return yards for his career which is 11 shy of the top 5 with D.J. Key '13 in fifth with 153.
- DB D'Arco Perkins-McAllister and DT Jamarr Jones also made interceptions today…that's No. 2 for Perkins-McAllister and 1st of his career for Jones but second takeaway (2023 FR vs ETSU).
- DB Jordan Walker led the team in tackles with six…also had a pass breakup.
- Career-high 13 points for K/P Jude Kelley…3-3 on field goals – 31, 48 & 44 yards – and 4-4 on PATS….24 points over last two weeks for Kelley.
 
RECORD WATCH
Pass Yards (Career):
1. Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 8,197
8. Steve Woods (1978-81): 5,026
9. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 4,358
 
Pass TDs (Career):
1. Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 64
6. Nick Tiano (2017-19): 35
tie. Mickey Brokas (1970-73): 35
8. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 29
tie. Alejandro Bennifield (2014-17): 29
tie. Brian Hampton (1995-98): 28
 
300-yd Pass Games (Career):
1. Chris Sanders (1999-00): 12
2. B.J. Coleman (2009-11): 6
3. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 4
 
Total Offense (Career)  
1. Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 12,248
8. Steve Woods (1978-81): 5,228
9. Antonio Miller (2004-07): 4,717
10. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 4,506
 
Receptions (Career)
1. Emmanuel Hassell (2004-06): 169
8. Jeremy Grier (2001-03): 144
tie. Terrell Owens (1992-95): 144
10. Sam Phillips (2022-present): 137
Javin Whatley (2022-present): 119
 
Receiving Yards (Career)
1. Stefpon Hawkins (1996-99): 2,375
6. C.J. Board (2013-16): 2,032
tie. Jamoi Mayes (2020-23): 2,032
8. Joel Bradford (2008-11): 1,944
9. Sam Phillips (2022-present): 1,914
10. Javin Whatley (2022-present): 1,910
 
SOCON SCOREBOARD
The Citadel 13, at VMI 10
Western Carolina 52, at Furman 20
Mercer at Samford, 3 p.m.